Curious about the Shoes

We were discussing the "armor" prayer of Ephesians 6:10-20. Someone asked, "Which piece of the armor resonates most with you right now?" I had to think about that a little, and the discussion actually moved on to other things before I had my answer.

I'm curious about the shoes.

Isn't it interesting that in the midst of this warfare metaphor we have this:

and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Paul says in this life the Christian has certain powerful enemies, and we need the armor to protect ourselves and to fight properly. He refers to truth, righteousness, faith, assurance of salvation, the Word of God as the essential elements of our war-gear, given that the "cosmic powers" are set against us. But what about those shoes?

In keeping with his battle motif, he might have said the shoes were for charging into the fight or something. But he says they're for "readiness." And that the readiness is ours through "the gospel of peace." It's a readiness to "stand," I suppose, as opposed to cut and run. Perhaps it's a readiness to "go" with the good news of peace "into all the world," or at least your neighborhood. You've got all this other gear (helmet, breastplate, sword, shield), but that doesn't make you "ready." The gospel (good news) of peace does that.

In the midst of all this war-talk, the gospel of peace. This is a soldier whose purpose is to bring the "good news" of peace. Not peace with the devil, but peace with God, who is infinitely more to be feared.

But what if I'm not "ready"? What if I have all the other gear but not the shoes? What if I'm not prepared to "go," carrying my message of peace to a war-torn world? My suspicion is, if you don't have the readiness, the enemy will leave you alone. His purpose is to undermine your faith so that the good news doesn't look so good and you're not really sure you want to tell people about it. I have a hunch that if you don't have the shoes, he won't mind you going about with your sword and shield, a Christian tin soldier.

Many in this world are living in a tragic peace with the enemy of their souls, while they are at war with their friend and lover. The Christian, bringing his/her message of peace (with God) into every situation, is a threat to that enemy's single overriding purpose. Jesus said, "Go," but the devil stays, "hold on. Wait. Go back." That liar will try to undermine your mission by attacking your knowledge, your faith, your assurance, making you feel "unready." But faith means believing something and living like you believe it. And that "something" is, in this case, the gospel of peace.

Have I got my shoes on?